History on line for Patriots but Super Bowl triumph would mean more for Falcons

It’s the Super Bowl, so naturally there’s more on the line than just the Lombardi Trophy.

Fair or not, legacies often hang in the balance and we often define players’ careers by whether or not they earned a ring.

This game may cement Tom Brady’s status as the greatest quarterback of all-time if he can do what no other in his position has ever done before: win a fifth title.

It may also firmly entrench Bill Belichick as the greatest coach ever, putting him ahead of Vince Lombardi if he can slow down one of the greatest offences in history with another master-stroke of coaching.

But if Brady and Belichick lose on the big stage, even if it’s for a third time, it’s unlikely our view of what they’ve accomplished during their unprecedented run will alter.

It’s also likely, considering Brady’s Benjamin Button-like aging process and Belichick’s continued presence, we see them in the Super Bowl again before it’s all said and done.

That’s why this Super Bowl is more important for the Atlanta Falcons and their city.

Let’s start with the wider scope. Atlanta isn’t considered one of the greatest sporting cities in the United States, but it should be.

Spare me the fairweather comments. Anecdotally, we often hear not enough fans show up to games to support the local teams. Well, if you look at the NFL’s average attendance for this season, Atlanta had the 14th largest crowd at 69,999.

You may think that number was influenced by how successful of a season the Falcons had. The answer: not really. In the past three years, when the Falcons went 8-8 in 2015, 6-10 in 2014 and 4-12 in 2013, Atlanta actually averaged a higher attendance than 2016 and ranked 13th in the league each time.

If your teams aren’t winning much, the spotlight usually won’t fall on the fans. Which is why with a Super Bowl win, Atlanta supporters can finally earn some recognition and deserved respect.

A victory would also end plenty of futility.

We just saw Cleveland and Chicago remarkably erase their massive championship droughts in the same year when the Cavaliers reached the pinnacle and the Cubs tasted glory, but Atlanta isn’t all that far behind in terms of hard luck across their four major sporting franchises.

In total, Atlanta’s teams are a jaw-dropping 1-for-167 in winning titles. That ‘one’ is courtesy of the Atlanta Braves in 1995, which doesn’t sound all that long ago, but certainly feels like it.

Sure, the city is often more focused on college sports, especially college football, but that doesn’t take away the hurt the fans of the professional teams feel. By beating New England, that pain can quickly turn to pure joy.

It’s crucial the Falcons capitalise on this opportunity. Not because they’re necessarily one-hit wonders or not built to get to this point again, but because the NFL landscape can change instantly. Hell, it’s designed to. The Patriots are the exception, not the rule.

The Falcons have also gotten this far in major part due to their world-beating offence, whose orchestrator on the sidelines, Kyle Shanahan, is leaving for a head coaching gig in San Francisco in the offseason. Maybe Matt Ryan and Co will be just fine without him, but it’s hard to think they’ll remain as dominant.

So here it is Atlanta, here’s your stage to shine. Who knows when you’ll get the chance again.

In part one, Asser and Christ discuss if and how the Patriots can slow down the Falcons’ historically-potent offence, breaking down the match-up between wide receiver Julio Jones and New England’s secondary and how Atlanta’s running back duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman will be key.

In part two, the focus shifts to the other side of the ball, where the young Falcons defence have their hands full against Tom Brady and Co. Can Atlanta generate enough pressure to disrupt Brady and how split will the Patriots’ play-calling be in terms of passes to runs.

Finally, Asser and Crist give their predictions on the winner and final score.

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EAFL coaches give their predictions for Super Bowl LI

In my opinion, I’d like to see Atlanta pull it out. I think they’ve been the underdog team this year and have been a surprise against a lot of teams. Atlanta is a young team, first time in the Super Bowl in quite a while.

Their coaching staﬀ I’m sure will be able to handle it, but if talk about experience and the players that have the experience, you have to give the nod to the New England Patriots.

I really think the Falcons are going to win. It’s just a weird year and it’s all about match-ups. If they were playing Dallas or somebody like that, it may go diﬀerently. But I think Atlanta is going to pull out an upset.

It will definitely come down to whoever turns the ball over less. Player for player, I think Atlanta has better talent, but if it gets down to coaching decisions, it’s definitely going to benefit New England.

Predicted score: 24-17 AtlantaPredicted MVP: Julio Jones

Kyle Jordan (Dubai Barracudas)

Anytime you have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, it’s going to be tough to overcome. They’ve been to this show many times with a whole bunch of diﬀerent players. It doesn’t matter who is out there with them, they always seem to get the most out of them. And they’re not fazed by the big stage.

It’s tough to count them out. I know the Falcons are playing some really good oﬀence, but the Super Bowl is a diﬀerent animal altogether.

I got to go with my hometown boys and my team, the Atlanta Falcons. I think it’s a diﬀerent team than what they’ve had before. It’s a lot of diﬀerent than the other times they’ve made it to the playoﬀs.

They look like they’re playing with a purpose now instead of having that wideeyed look. Now it looks like they’re supposed to be here. I think Matt Ryan has proven himself all along, but this is the first year of his career he isn’t running for his life.